EIGHT CASES OF HEPATITIS A ARE REPORTED IN AREA

MARBLE HILL -- Eight cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed in Bollinger County, said Sara Michie, administrator of the Bollinger County Health Department."We are now conducting a communicable-disease investigation, screening and follow-up," Michie said Wednesday. She would not release any information about the cases at this point in the investigation.

She did say that interviews are proceeding with those who have contacted the disease, and the health department is contacting people the carriers say they have been in contact with who may be at risk of having the viral liver disease. They can be given immune globulin, which may prevent the exposed person from getting hepatitis A if given within two weeks of exposure.

Hepatitis A is highly contagious and is spread through the fecal-oral route, the Missouri Department of Health says. Hepatitis A is usually spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person who has the disease. If hands are not washed thoroughly after using the toilet, the virus can be carried on the infected person's hands and spread by direct contact or by eating or drinking food or beverages that were handled by the infected individual. In some cases, the disease can be spread through drinking water contaminated with improperly treated sewage. It can also be spread through sharing between users of injectable and inhalable drugs. Hepatitis A cannot be spread by sneezing and coughing, said the Department of Health. Hepatitis A is seldom fatal, but it can cause long-term sickness. An adult can lose about a month's work while recovering. Symptoms of hepatitis A include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, jaundice, pain in the liver area, dark urine, light-colored stools and abdominal pain. Symptoms may recur for up to six months. Unlike other food-borne illnesses, hepatitis A can take 15 to 50 days for symptoms to occur. During that time, the person may be infectious. In addition, some people, especially small children, may never develop symptoms.